Political science

Re-constituting American conservatism

Article Abstract:

There has been a lengthy debate among US conservatives about the nature of their connections with the American Founding and the Western Tradition. The latest intervention in this debate was an article by Charles Kesler in which he calls for conservatives to become 'more American.' He seems to suggest that conservatives should become the US party of liberal rationality and liberal justice. His concept of human equality dictates that nobody should 'govern' another person without that person's agreement. His apparent understanding of human nature is an abstract freedom. He is wrong to claim that US conservatism has been separated from the origins of its own political tradition.

The intellectual conservatives do not give importance to ideas and culture and are instead deeply fascinated by politics. For them, works of thought and imagination are forces which may demand troublesome self-examination of one's own views and ideology. To some extent the leftist line of thinking has been responsible for the apathetic attitude of conservatives toward thought and imagination. This phenomenon seems to be disappearing gradually, as some renowned conservatives have been seen to be taking interest in 'the culture.'

The Americanization of conservatism

Article Abstract:

Conservative scholars must identify a core group of principles as forming the vital ground of US conservative moral and political thinking. Those whose commitments do not place them within this core group should not be allowed to play an active part in moulding a US conservative political vision. Conservative scholars should seek to develop the coherence of US conservatism, and must also investigate and explicate the US's foundational moments.